Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-30
"Can A Leopard Change His Spots"

The frantic appeals Of the Republican
press of Maryland, to the Democratic peo-
pie of this Democratic State, to forget and
forgive the bygone rule OF the Republican
party, lily accord with the speeches Of
their two great high priests and apostles
Messrs. McComas and Hodson, and We
can see no reason why Democrats should
allow the mantle of Oblivion to fall upon
acts which DISTINGUISHED thousands of their
party a few years ago and which, in the
sacred name of liberty and government,
perpetrated the foulest order of wrongs
ever frowned upon by Heaven. And since
that time what reason is there to think
that the Republican Leopard has changed
his spots or the radical Ethiopian the
color of his skin.
At the late Republican State Convention
did not Messrs. McComas and Hodson
the mighty men Of war; of this party ap-
peal to their followers TO "turn to the days
of Henry Winter Davis and Thomas Holli-
day Hicks9" What were the days OF
Davis and Hicks Are there not men
among our people who can we'll recall the
power Of these men, and how it was maiD-
tanned by the bayoneta Do We not re-
msmber the time when no man dared to
criticise their actions9 Is not their re-
cord written upon the pages of the years
from 1861 to 1862 What is this record
Read it and see.
1t is the record of agitation, of the for
chile disfranchisement of our people. 1t
was the era of China Hallism or blood.
tubism of bradawlism and extravsgaut
administration of the finances of the State.
This in Maryland alone. In other States
even blacker crimes have been done, and
their odor rises to Heaven even yet, call
ing down retribution on guilty heads
Since that time the nature of the Republi-
can party has not changed. What it did
then it will do ag.iu if given an opportu-
nifty.
Place the Republicans in power and they
would filI-as it would be their privilege
to do-all the Safe offices with their crea-
lures. They wonld seat Republican judges
on the bench; they would adopt a new
constitution and pass laws, as they did
before, to fortify themselves in their posi-
ton they would turn over the charge OF
our public schools to Republican school
commissioners they would favor mixed
schools; carpet bagsers-those pests OF
The South-would hold State offices they
would be chosen to misrepresent Maryland
in the Legislature and in the Federal Con-
gress, and with their predacious habits,
would not fai to profit by their opportu,
mites; they would increase by many mil
lions Of dollars the State deb, and thrive
on bribery and corruption.
There can be but one safeguard agsins.
these evils and that is 10 remember them
There can be but one way to prevent these
crimes, and that is, not TO give their per.
petrators the power to commit them. The
surest way tor the people to secure them
selves against this 10 to rote sor for Q new
constitution that will throw such safe
guards around the ballot as will preven,
Republican fraud and chicauery from ever
gainiug control Of its machinery, -
Alresdy they are at their old II = i 10
Baltimore. large Numbers Of oolorsi Re
pu5linans haze been registered there ritsin
the last month. Some of these men have
been imported from Calvert and other
counties, and some have been fraudplen,ly
registered no doubt. In Hagerstowu, in
Montgomery county and in Calvert county
their orators are endeavaring to stir up
strife
Fiery denunciaiions Of the Democratic
State government are made in public as
semblies of colored men like the one held
in Hagerstown and no effort spared to fan
to fame agaia the embers Of those by -gone q
days of Thomas Holiday Hicks" and
Henry Winter Davis" which have such
savory memory to the people of Maryland
Be not deceived, Democrats. Let no side
issue lead you astray this fall, but let every
voter go to the polls and support his State
ticket, bis county ticket and a new consti-
tuition Carroll Democrat.